No Internet - No Problem? Air-Gapped Kubernetes on Bare Metal

Learn to deploy fully automated, air-gapped Kubernetes clusters on bare metal servers without internet access in this 45-minute conference talk from the Linux Foundation. Discover how BWI GmbH, the IT provider for the German Armed Forces, operates in environments where isolation is mandatory due to strict security requirements or physical separation. Explore the technical architecture built around a purpose-built origin node based on NixOS that provides all necessary external services to bootstrap clusters using Talos OS. Master the challenges of bootstrapping from complete isolation, understand the pitfalls and benefits of Nix and NixOS, navigate Talos quirks including image caching limitations, and automate server setup through BMC access using the Redfish API. Examine considerations for NeoNephos projects in future development and gain practical insights for spinning up fully disconnected Kubernetes clusters in environments where connectivity is nonexistent and minimal reliance on datacenter services like NTP is essential.